From DFoundation
Progress report of the Bodhgaya Project
In previous reports we have highlighted the serious problems in Bihar of child trafficking, begging and mutilation. We are now working in selected tribal areas in Bodhgaya to try to help put an end to these problems.
For the last three months, we have traveled many times between Sarnath and Bodhgaya. Finally we started our 4 centres in the tribal areas which are 6 to 7 km away from Bodhgaya itself and our D-Foundation office in Bodhgaya. There are 6 trainers and teachers, one volunteer from Austria and one office staff.
We took one step at a time in order to we begin our project. Firstly we contacted the village’s Pradhans (village elder or decision-maker) and explained about our ideas to them. After consideration was made on our proposal to help solve serious problems within the region, we selected 4 villages (Bhuntoli-1, Bhuntoli-2, Hatiyar and Silonza) to run our centres. We requested them to allow the female children to attend our vocational centres and schools. We appointed the teachers and trainers and located suitable centres for training. Also we have arranged necessary funds to begin this work.
As soon as we started the centre, a large number of women and parents requested to enroll themselves and their children. However we had to select them according to our resources and manpower. We have given first preference to girls as they are often neglected in these villages. We found enormous demand not only for vocational training but also for child education.
Therefore we have decided to run schools within these centres also. There will be two shifts each day; three hours for vocational centres and three hours for child education. We are currently teaching Class 1 to Class 5 with most students being taught for the first time. The total enrollment in our centres is around 100 women and girls for vocational training and almost 140 children for school.
We are working with the committees from the villages in these tribal areas and making aware them of child traffickers and others social problems. Once they are aware they can begin to protect themselves and their children and the problems will reduce. We also advise them on important work for developments of village areas. Along with this we are also undertaking programmes for family planning and health awareness with the help of Ramkirshna mission.
So we will invite parents and young girls to meetings where we can discuss the various issues. Finally we have also made steps to contact the local government and district minister to start work in boys and girls juvenile homes.
Thank you
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